Opinion: Why I’m fighting for a fairer Vancouver | Daily Hive

Opinion: From renter to candidate — Why I’m fighting for a fairer Vancouver

Annette Reilly. (Green Party of Vancouver)

Written for Daily Hive Urbanized by Annette Reilly, who is the Green Party’s candidate in the Vancouver City Council By-Election this Saturday, April 5, 2025.

When I first moved to Vancouver, I fell head over heels for this city — its beauty, its creativity, and its promise. But over the years, as a renter, a working mother, and a cancer survivor, I’ve also seen just how hard it’s become to build a life here with any real sense of stability.

Too many people are being pushed out of their homes, priced out of their neighbourhoods, or left scrambling for the basic support they need to get by — let alone get ahead. That’s why I’m running in this by-election: because Vancouver needs leadership that puts people first, not just profits.

One of the first things Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC Vancouver party majority did was dismantle the Renter’s Office — an initiative championed by Green City Councillor Pete Fry to help tenants facing evictions, renovictions, and skyrocketing rents. That office was a critically important resource as tenants are facing mass demovictions. And now? It’s gone.

If elected, I will fight to bring it back — stronger and better equipped to stand up for renters, like me, across the city.

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But let’s be clear: bringing back the Renter’s Office is just the start. Vancouver should set the standard for real, enforceable tenant protections. That means ensuring people can return to their homes at the same rent after redevelopment. That means real relocation support and fair compensation. That means tightening the loopholes that allow renters to fall through the cracks. That means citywide protections — not a patchwork of policies that leave renters at the mercy of their postal code.

And then there’s the humanitarian crisis in the Downtown Eastside — the one Sim and ABC are pretending isn’t happening. His so-called “Task Force Barrage” swept vulnerable people out of the Downtown Eastside without offering them anywhere to go. It didn’t fix the problem; it just pushed it out of sight, into business districts, onto sidewalks, with no shelter and no options.

We need daytime shelters in this city. Safe, dignified places where people can rest, warm up or cool down, get basic care, and connect with health and housing services. I’ll push to make that happen — by advocating for provincial funding, cutting municipal red tape, and working with communities instead of steamrolling them.

I’ll also fight to reverse the freeze on supportive housing approvals that will keep people stuck in crisis. The City doesn’t fund supportive housing — but it sure as hell has the power to speed it up or slow it down. I’ll push to cut permitting delays and strengthen partnerships with the province and non-profit organizations to get people housed faster.

And while we’re at it, let’s make this city greener, healthier, and more livable. I want to see Vancouver meet the 3-30-300 standard: three trees visible from every home, 30 per cent tree canopy in every neighbourhood, and a park or green space within 300 metres of everyone. It’s a proven, science-backed goal that protects us all — especially during heatwaves, floods, and wildfire smoke. Not to mention its value to both our physical and mental health.

Sim has already shown he doesn’t take the climate crisis seriously. No, I’m not talking about his reckless scheme to invest Vancouver’s stabilization reserves into energy intensive bitcoin, or his abandonment of safe active transportation infrastructure on Broadway and in Stanley Park. Sim has made it quite clear that he intends to bring back his motion to bring back fossil gas for heating in new construction, and I want to make it equally clear that I intend to fight for the climate and the future of my children.

Finally, let’s talk about accountability — because right now, City Hall isn’t exactly overflowing with it. The Integrity Commissioner has not been empowered to hold City Council accountable. That needs to change. I will lobby the province to give the Integrity Commissioner the ability to sanction transgressions, shield it from political interference, and make its investigations and reports fully transparent. Because ethics and accountability shouldn’t depend on who holds the majority.

I know how tough it is to live in Vancouver — I’ve lived it firsthand. But I also know the strength of this community. I’ve seen it in the advocacy work I’ve done with Young Adult Cancer Canada. I’ve explored it through my art, telling stories that reflect real struggles — and real hope.

This election isn’t just about sending a message. It’s about sending someone to City Hall who knows what it’s like to be left behind — and who will never turn their back on those who need a voice.

I’m ready to fight for housing, dignity, and climate justice. I hope I can earn your vote.

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